College of Engineering

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Energy, food, water and the environment are vital for the well-being of both current and future generations. Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) programs prepare students for careers that address these and other vital concerns. ABE offers two distinct degree program: Agricultural Engineering and Biological Engineering. The Agricultural Engineering program trains professional engineers for rewarding careers in the Machine Systems Engineering specialization or the Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering specialization. The Biological Engineering program emphasizes the processing and chemistry of biological materials, the development of food, pharmaceuticals, and industrial products or cellular and biomolecular engineering. Both curricula include a combination of courses in biology, life sciences and engineering that provides the essential skills needed to design and/or manage biologically based production or processing systems, and machines.

Agricultural engineers with a focus on environmental and natural resources engineering work in industries and organizations focused on effective environmental and natural resource management, sources of clean energy and maintaining water and air quality.

Agricultural engineers with a focus on machine systems engineering develop machines and processes to support the environmentally friendly production and efficient use of energy, food and water while promoting health and safety.

Biological engineers work in industries that produce food or pharmaceuticals or use biological or biochemical processes to develop and manufacture new products.

Students in the department have flexibility in planning their professional training to meet particular degree objectives. Additional information, including the department's mission statement is available at www.purdue.edu/abe.